Ramallah: The Palestinian Authority has expressed approval of Israel's addition to the United Nations' list of perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict zones. The move has been described by Palestinian officials as 'realistic and objective.'
According to Anadolu Agency, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry released a statement supporting the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, amid allegations that Israel attempted to influence the report leading to its inclusion on the blacklist. The ministry accused Israel and its institutions of practicing torture and sexual violence against Palestinians, particularly in detention centers within the occupied territories.
The statement further alleged that Israel has systematically used sexual violence as a weapon, classifying it as a war crime and a crime against humanity. It emphasized that Israel has maintained a widespread policy aimed at intimidating Palestinians and creating conditions for forced displacement over the years.
The Palestinian Authority stressed that the UN's decision to add Israel to the blacklist is based on extensive diplomatic efforts and substantial documentation from Palestinian and international sources. Numerous reports and testimonies have been submitted by Palestinian victims detailing sexual violence and other violations during detention processes.
Palestine has urged the international community to act upon these reports and activate mechanisms for protecting Palestinian people, as well as ensuring accountability and prosecution for the alleged crimes.
In response, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, announced the cessation of contacts with Guterres' office, describing Israel's inclusion as "outrageous" and part of a broader "campaign against Israel."
The addition of Israel to the blacklist follows multiple media and human rights reports accusing the Israeli military of sexual violence. An opinion piece by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof highlighted interviews with Palestinian detainees who recounted experiences of sexual assaults and abuse by Israeli forces.
Kristof noted there was no evidence of direct orders from Israeli leaders for such acts but argued the security apparatus allowed sexual violence to become a standard procedure. His article referenced reports from organizations such as Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Save the Children, B'Tselem, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, along with a UN report accusing Israel of systematically employing 'sexualized torture.'